The Forgotten Ozone Layer

So what do we do? In 1987, ozone depleting compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were outlawed, and they have been dropping in amount by about 1 percent each year. In 2006, 40 million tonnes of ozone were depleted. This year, that number dropped to 27.7 million, according to European Space Agency scientists. Paul Fraser, atmospheric scientist at the CSIRO`s Marine and Atmospheric Research unit in Melbourne, Australia, says that this 30 percent decrease was expected with such behavior. In fact, he claims that healing of the layer will be possible by the middle of the century if such behavior continues. As such, it is in everybody's interest to make an effort.

The size of the hole varies from year to year according to the temperature of the stratosphere (upper atmosphere). In 2002, the hole broke up, and the new holes have since grown to become bigger than the original one. The total area of ozone depleted air now covers 24.7 million square kilometers, which is approximately twice the size of the Antarctic, or three times the size of Australia.

So what do we do? In 1987, ozone depleting compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were outlawed, and they have been dropping in amount by about 1 percent each year. In 2006, 40 million tonnes of ozone were depleted. This year, that number dropped to 27.7 million, according to European Space Agency scientists. Paul Fraser, atmospheric scientist at the CSIRO`s Marine and Atmospheric Research unit in Melbourne, Australia, says that this 30 percent decrease was expected with such behavior. In fact, he claims that healing of the layer will be possible by the middle of the century if such behavior continues. As such, it is in everybody's interest to make an effort.

                                 

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